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' J. H.0SBORNB.

Method of Cutting Out Stocking Blanks. No. 242,684. Patented June 7,1881.

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BN2 WITNESSES-i dQa/Ymm hjw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. OSBORNE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS S. COX, F SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,684, dated June 7, 1881.

Application filed April 4, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. OSBORNE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Cutting out Stocking-Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so cut a tube or web of knitted fabric to form stockingblanks that stockings made from said blanks will be of better shape and more comfortable to wear than out stockings as made previous to my invention.

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram showing the method now adopted in euttin g tubes of knitted fabric to form stocking-blanks; Fig. 2, a view of part of a stocking made f1 om a blank socut; Fig. 3, a view showing my improved method of cutting blanks from a tube; Fig. 4, a view of part of a stocking made from a blank cut according to my invention, and Fig. 5 a diagram illustrating the application of myinventiou to the cutting of stocking-blanks from flat webs instead of tubes.

The ordinary method of cutting tubes of knitted fabric to form stocking-blanks is to form in the tube at intervals a central longitudinal incision, a, and two transverse incisions, b b, theincision a being parallel with the edges of the tube and the transverse incisions 1) extending from the central incision to said edges. (See Fig. 1.) Projections 0c are thus formed on those portions y of the tube which form the legs of the stockings, and these projections :r are then folded on the central line,

:10, and the edges (1 d and c e sewed together to form thefoot of the stocking, as in Fig. 2. The junction of the two seams is by this method of cutting brought in line with the center of the tube 3 which forms the leg of the stocking. Hitherto the tubes have been knitted of a size equal to that of the ankle portion of the stocking, and the desired shape of the projecting calf and heel has been imparted by applyin g the stocking to a press-hoard or former of the proper outline and then subjecting it to heat and pressure. This stretches the tube of fabric at the calf and heel, and is objectionable, as it interferes with the proper elasticity of the stocking at these points.

A much more acceptable method of making the stocking is to knit the tube in the first instance ofa size equal to that of the calf por- .tion of the leg, and impart the proper shape to the ankle and heel by cutting away the rear portion of the tube at m, for by this means the stretching of the stocking is prevented and the'tube retains its elasticity throughout. This cutting operation, however, removes so much of the rear half of the tube that when the junction of the two seams of the foot is in line with the center of the tube the heel a is' almost entirely cut away, the shape of the stocking being destroyed, and the comfort of the wearer interfered with.

In order to permit the shaping of the stocking by cutting away the rear portion of the tube, and yet preserve the proper shape of the foot and heel, I discard the usual method of cutting the tube and make the central incision, a, at an angle to the edges of the tube, as shown in Fig. 3. By this means the junction of the two seams of the foot is brought considerably in advance of the center line of the tube, and the projection to is made much wider at the outer orfree end than at the connected end, so that when the stocking is cut and sewed as shown in Fig. 4 the proper shape of the foot and heel is preserved, and the seams are so located as not to interfere with the comfort of the wearer. The stocking in this respect, in fact, is almost or quite as perfect as those known to the trade as full fashioned or full regular made, to which the proper shape is given by the slow and costly process of varying the width of the fabric ill the machine during the process of manufacture.

The good shape and perfect fit of the stocking resulting from my improved method of cutting the blank enable me to make a much higher grade of cut hose than has hitherto been considered practicable.

My invention may be applied to the cutting consisting in forming the project-ing foot porwe tion a: with edges inclined in respeet'to the center line of the tube or web, as set forth.

' 2. A. stocking-blank consisting of a tube or Web having a projecting foot portion, :10, with 5 edges inclined in respect to the center line of the tube or web, as set forth.

3. A stocking made from it tube cut and seamed at m, and having the junction of the foot-seams in advance of the center line of the 10 tube, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. OSBORNE.

Witnesses:

JAMES F. TOBIN, HARRY SMITH. 

